Powell Aide Calls Bush "Sarah Palin-Like President"

In its "Oral History of the Bush White House," Vanity Fair hears from Lawrence Wilkerson. The former top aide to Colin Powell compares our current president to none other than Sarah Palin:

Lawrence Wilkerson, top aide and later chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell: We had this confluence of characters--and I use that term very carefully--that included people like Powell, Dick Cheney, Condi Rice, and so forth, which allowed one perception to be "the dream team." It allowed everybody to believe that this Sarah Palin-like president--because, let's face it, that's what he was--was going to be protected by this national- security elite, tested in the cauldrons of fire. What in effect happened was that a very astute, probably the most astute, bureaucratic entrepreneur I've ever run into in my life became the vice president of the United States.

Spencer Ackerman asks whether this comparison is more insulting to Bush or to Palin. Matthew Yglesias says its no contest:

I'm going to say "more insulting to Palin." Palin's something of a laughingstock, but Bush is a villain. I mean, he wrecked the world economy, he led to millions of Iraqis being forced to flee their homes, he's a total disaster and a disgrace. Palin gave bad answers in TV interviews. There's no real comparison.

Steve Benen counters that Palin hasn't had her chance:

[I]f we put aside the question of corollaries and consider Bush's and Palin's characteristics as politicians and would-be leaders, the comparison isn't too far-fetched. Both were out of their depth seeking national office, both are strikingly uninformed, both suffer from an eerie misguided confidence, and both seem to consider policy details as minor annoyances to be ignored.

Sure, Palin wasn't able to do serious national (and international) damage, but isn't it fair to say both she and Bush are cut from the same cloth?

Comments

[indy girl]

Sarah Palin and GW Bush do have a LOT in common. They are both undereducated and completely, blissfully unaware of their shortcomings. When cornered or asked a hard question, they both just talk louder, use more words, become indignant, or change the subject. These are not thinking people, and we need thinking people in Washington in BOTH PARTIES. Voters should insist on candidates who can make a coherent sentence, and discuss foreign policy, the economy, health care and other critical issues without looking like talking point-trained monkeys. The rejection of Sarah Palin in November was a great start.

[Jeffreygeez]

Palin was elected because she is good looking and has no clue. The same criteria men prefer to use when they hire an escort service gal. Alaska's male population far exceeds the female population in numbers, hence they vote for Sarah. The women of Alaska know that this ratio makes the odds good, but they also know that the goods are odd in Alaska. So they also voted for Sarah.. The rest of America has no such excuse. Alaska and Palin/ Far away/ Go! and stay.

[1Marie23]

Did you ever wonder why it is hard to find articles about Caroline Kennedy's quest for the senate seat today on the Huffington Post, but there are headlines galore for Palin? Palin draws people in, they like her. You don't, we know that but many millions like her and are drawn to her. Caroline only wishes she could speak well and sound intelligent. Ya know?

[psygeek]

I can see Russia from my house.

[joeyfoto]

Sarah Palin is just George Bush in drag. But, unlike Bush, who will retreat into his ex-Presidential bubble, Sarah Palin will be around for a long time. With her popularity, there will be a place for her in the public eye. With her high negatives that place probably won't be in elected national office. I could see her on the Home Shopping Network... selling silver-plated jewelry, to those special people in the real America. We'll see...

[sjk1]

SP was good at re-distributin' while there was $$$. Whatchagonnadonow?

[donveylindsey]

ok and donvey lindsey

[rhondadavis28]

Go away, please.

[AbrakadaBarak]

Who's hand is that?



LOL!

[Explorer]

The REAL reason the left hates Palin is they don't belive ANYONE can honestly get an 80% approval rating!

Bush is NOT a conservative, but a spinless moderate who will talk about his religious beliefs. Sarah on the other hand...............

After 2 years of Obama's opression, thinking folks will be open to accepting nearly any non-Marixist on the ballot. (NO, it will NOT take 4 years!)

[HummusGringo]

Oh, yeah, that's the REAL reason. You're so well-informed. Really!

[Vixter]

About as well-informed as Palin. BTW, Explorer, that is not a compliment...figured I would have to explain that to you if you are as ignorant as your post makes you sound.

[gdaerin]

hehehe, you called Obama a Marxist, lol

[bermanator]

If Obama is a "Marxist", color me red.

[starkweather444]

Haha Republicans are so funny.

[Buddy McCue]

The REAL reason Palin ever had an 80% approval rating was that she increased the checks handed out to the citizens of Alaska. The people of that state liked sharing in the wealth of publicly-owned resources...

in other words, she was popular to the extent that she was Socialist.

Chew on that.

[postman606]

She handed out $3,000 welfare checks to every citizen in the state. Now that's a conservative you can believe in.

[mlrlmsw]

I love it - I said this all through the campaign: Sarah Palin = George W. Bush II. Incurious, anti-intellectual, grandiose, confident without cause, arrogant, hiding false pride under evangelical christianity, and willing to do anything to win. Oh, I forgot: neither "christian" walks the talk.

[flyteeskee]

I hope she is the face of the Repubs in 2012. President Obama won't have to go back to crazy IL for another four years.

[irescream]

Sarah Palin loves you all - Happy New Year!!

[bermanator]

She shouldn't...

[irescream]

Sarah Palin loves you all - Happy New Year!

[HummusGringo]

Go away, please.

[irescream]

Sarah Palin loves you all - Happy New Year!

[BadHaBritt]

repetition is no substitute for intellect

[irescream]

Go Sarah Palin drive the nuts left!

[gdaerin]

I think you're mistaken, The Left absolutely loves Sarah Palin, loves to make fun of her that is. If you were smart you'd start thinking about a Real candidate for 2012 to cheer on because Palin can not be reinvented, she's the really Really big joke that just keeps on giving.

Besides teh funny, Sarah Palin doesn't drive me nuts so much as she gives me this feeling that America is a stupid, stupid country. When I listened to her speeches or read her quotes I'd always come away with my confidence in this country completely shaken. The reason why McCain/Palin didn't win is that a majority of Americans felt the same way as me, scared out of their gourds at what could happen to us if those two were elected.

I notice nobody is really concerned with whether or not Obama is a secret terrorist anymore, but Sarah Palin is still a complete joke.

[bermanator]

I think the left is behind the Sarah Palin calendar sales on Amazon...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/26/sarah-palin-2009-calendar_n_153634.html

I'm gonna buy one.

I hope she does run in 2012... this could create a complete meltdown of the GOP. So many intelligent republicans were turned off by her.

[OctoberSkies]

My Repug neighbors are tired of all the name calling, which is what Palin does best.

[starkweather444]

The left want nothing more than Sarah Palin to get the nomination in 2012, it would mean 4 more years of Obama. Republicans actually believe the left is scared of Palin, what a total joke.

[nin]

irescream, nothing will make us happier than to have Palin on the ticket in 2012. See, we agree on this one thing. That is what I call "unity"...

As a matter of fact, we are watching with glee her carreer unfold. Those small town values are paying off big time.

[roblabrousse]

Sarah Palin is nothing who became a short-lived something that's gone back to be a nothing. If she were intelligent she would only be more of an irritant. Her only grace saving attribute is her silence. If she truly had something to offer this world things would be different. But she is worthless and her words and actions prove it. Instead of Sarah we could call her Gnat.